Mind vs computer
Dipping my thumb and forefinger into my books-forreview bag lifted a novel by Robert Goddard. It struck me that I last read him decades ago. I don’t have a photographic memory, but it was about a death that turned out to be a murder. It was set in a place I never heard of, I took to be imaginary. The plot, I recalled, was clever, but not outstanding. One False Move indicates he’s still penning crime thrillers.
Indeed, he turns out one a year. And he’s gotten literary awards. While not in the pantheon of top living authors, his blurb has it that his works have been multi-translated. To his credit, Lee Child gives him the nod.
During the quarter-century before television, home entertainment was radio. One of its popular programmes was called The Quiz Kids. Brainy high school students were selected to come on weekly and were asked questions to determine their IQ. The winner received a prize and was called a Young Einstein. Parents encouraged their children to study to be selected. High intelligence opened the gates to universities, senior positions, the road to becoming rocket scientists.
With computers it wasn’t necessary to have a broad education. Being the best in one or two fields was sufficient. The internet would do the rest. Chess champions challenged the computer for who was the better. Another match was between computer game developers and players. So confident were the developers of victory that they sent out challenges. Which is the background to One False Move. The developer’s creation is an advanced version of the ancient Chinese game Go. There’s an illustration of it in the book I won’t try to describe.
We are asked to believe that not only does Joe Roberts accept the challenge, but he wins. Because of his extraordinary mind his services are sought in every technical field, told to name his own price. The competition for him is fierce.
A woman, Nicole Nevison, is sent to see that he makes the right choice. The rivals aren’t above deleting her. Can they get through this in one piece? Goddard builds suspense and interweaves action. Set during the 20th century, the chapters are unnumbered, for which I find no reason. A gold star for an original plot. However, the story doesn’t flow. While 370 pages is usually agreeable, for what it says it could have been shorter.
The critics, instead of giving him a deserved pat on the back, pull out the stops. “The world’s greatest storyteller” (Guardian) is above and beyond.